Bulking up on healthy sleep habits

Quarantining has many employees confusing time for work for time for bed, making essential shuteye elusive. Skipping on good sleep can have negative effects on one’s health. Lisa M. Cannon, M.D., shares a few tips to improve sleep hygiene.

A good night’s sleep improves health, recharges the body, and promotes muscle recovery. It’s important to make sleep a priority to get on the road to better health. The key to experiencing quality sleep is consistency. Have a set bedtime every night and wake up the same time in the morning, including weekends, to become consistent with the sleep pattern. The environment at home also plays a role in good sleep. A bedroom that is dark, quiet, relaxing, and has pleasant temperature is conducive to sleep.

Use bright lights to manage the circadian rhythm. During the daytime, head outside for a bit of sunlight. At night, lessen your exposure to bright lights to keep the body clock in check. A few hours before going to bed, avoid heavy meals, caffeinated drinks, alcohol, and cigarettes, as these can interfere with the sleeping pattern. The body needs to know when to wind down. Cues such as turning off the laptop and moving from the living room to the bedroom tell the brain it’s almost time to relax.

Observe a calming bedtime routine, shares Lisa M. Cannon, M.D. The routine may include signing off social media accounts, placing electronic gadgets as far away from you, and turning off the lights. This may help the brain know it’s time to sleep.

Lisa M. Cannon, M.D., is a board-certified physician with a private practice in Bergen County. She specializes in critical care, internal medicine, and pulmonary disease. Dr. Cannon graduated with a degree in medicine from New York Medical College and earned her fellowship in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine from the renowned Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. For more updates, head over to this page.